- British Army tests robotic vehicles for the first time during exercise in Michigan
- Integrated robotics are used to deliver front line supplies without risk to soldiers
- Footage shows future of ‘autonomous resupply’ of ammunition, food and fuel
This futuristic footage shows driverless 4x4s being directed by unseen British soldiers using games console-style controllers in a world first.
The Ministry of Defence yesterday announced it has worked with the US to trial an improved method of transporting food, fuel and ammunition to the front line.
Over the course of a week, ‘hoverbikes’ and robotic trucks were tested in Michigan for the first time ever.
A convoy of trucks without drivers are piloted in the US as the British Army looks to send supplies to the front line with minimal risk to soldiers
It is hoped that remote control of vehicles will limit risks to soldiers by making ‘autonomous resupply’ the norm.
Footage from an exercise three years in the making shows a robotic convoy of trucks race across the vast landscape led by the six-tonne British Army MAN SV.
The truck and the US Light Medium Tactical Vehicles that follow use integrated robotics to decide speed and steering among other functions.
The eerie video shows a close-up of a steering wheel turning on its own to keep a tele-operated Polaris MRZR steady.
The vehicle is fitted with Light Detection and Range, sensors, cameras and GPS.
The tele-operated Polaris MRZR races across Michigan as the Ministry of Defence trial driverless vehicles